Scott Brown: House failure to act on U.S. debt limit 'pathetic'

Associated PressU.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., after Republican leaders in the House of Representatives delayed a vote on raising the U.S. debt limit, called on "colleagues on both sides of the aisle to rise above partisanship." (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., on Thursday night labeled a delay on a vote in the House of Representatives on raising the U.S. debt limit as "pathetic."

Following the decision by Republican House leaders to delay the vote, Brown issued this statement:

"It’s extremely disappointing that the House of Representatives was unable to work together in a bi-partisan way to avoid default. Frankly, this is pathetic. The American people deserve better. I call upon my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to rise above partisanship. The time to act is now.”

Late Thursday night, GOP leaders announced their decision to put off a vote on legislation to avert a threatened government default and slice federal spending by nearly $1 trillion after abruptly halting debate on the legislation and plunging into an intensive round of meetings with rebellious conservatives.

The decision created fresh turmoil as a divided government struggled to head off a default threatened after next Tuesday that would leave the Treasury without the funds needed to pay all its bills.

Last Friday, Brown joined the rest of his party in supporting a House GOP debt limit proposal that ultimately failed in the Senate.